West Fargo eighth-graders to experience college classes at NDSU

10/24/2013

Approximately 70 eighth-graders from West Fargo will get a preview of university life at NDSU next week.

The students from Cheney Middle School and Liberty Middle School, who are coming to campus through the Advancement Via Individual Determination program, are scheduled to attend morning classes and eat lunch on campus on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and Wednesday, Oct. 30 with an NDSU student from the university's Teacher Education Program. The Advancement Via Individual Determination program is an academic support system designed to prepare students for college.

“The purpose of the AVID program is to encourage students who may not have been on a college-bound path to prepare for post-secondary education through rigorous coursework and experiences that help make college more accessible,” said Stacy Duffield, associate professor and director of teacher education at NDSU.

In 2010-11, 91 percent of more than 27,000 Advancement Via Individual Determination program seniors throughout the United States planned to pursue post-secondary education.

Cheney Middle School implemented Advancement Via Individual Determination in 2006, starting with sixth-grade students. The program now serves students in grades 6-12 at Cheney Middle School, Sheyenne High School, Liberty Middle School and West Fargo High School. NDSU teacher education students make up 27 of the 28 tutors in the program. West Fargo schools have the only Advancement Via Individual Determination program in North Dakota.

“Many of the students visiting campus will be first-generation college students, and we are excited to show them what college is like and have a little fun in the process” Duffield said. “Our teach education students are great role models for the eighth-graders and can help them see all the great benefits of attending college.”

About 30 middle school students will attend class from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., followed by lunch at 11 a.m. in the West Dining Center on Oct. 29. About 40 students will attend class from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., followed by lunch at 11 a.m. in the West Dining Center on Oct. 30.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.